Anyone who's given a
PowerBook,
MacBook, or
MacBook Pro a good look probably knows how the ventilation system works: two inlets near the front of the computer draw the air in, a big vent grid underneath the screen hinge lets it all out. Ideally. Except Gert Stahl apparently discovered a thin layer of plastic film in his MacBook that prevented airflow, and was causing his machine to overheat; removal promptly caused his fans to shut off and the machine's heat to return to a level more manageable. What's more, apparently there was never any mention made in the manual about the removal of any such film, leading one to believe that this might be unintentional (read: manufacturing error). So, if you've got a MacBook and it's a little toasty, check that gap out for the thin plastic strip -- if you've got the film (or if you don't) then you let us know!
Update: Well, it looks like the court of public opinion has ruled on this one... doesn't appear to be the real deal. If you've got a blocked vent, well, you obviously didn't speak up. So for now we're gonna close this case and move on with our damn selves.
posted May 25th 2006 12:47PM
"41. i get the feeling half the people who comment here have decals on the back of their cars of Calvin urinating on a Chevy logo."
No, you get it right! It's a Ford Logo!
Snarkier than thou? Natch!
I think the problem with overheating is being caused by the clouds of smug from the users gumming up the works. Additional ventilation may allow MORE smug into the system, exacerbating the problem.
"Mac users are idiots as exemplified by #7 (Tush). If they didn't want anything to go inside or outside there why would they put inlets there? BTW, it was explained to your dumb ass that it is part of the ventilation system."
I think you're getting a little worked up there, #33 (SR)... I think you misunderstood me. I meant that the plastic film covering the ventillation system was there to keep foreign objects frmo getting in their during shipping...
It's funny how easily people shoot their mouths' off, there was no need to call my ass dumb. It's very intelligent.
the thing that suprises me is that why are so many macbooks encountering problems. i used to be a mac person but not im not becasue my ibook ran at temperatures compared to hell. i prefer cool machines and apple cant deliver that. in a class i took at my college, we had a lab filled with G5s. this was last semester. These G5s got so hot that they needed airconditioning. omg. what is wrong with apple. why cant they make machines that are cooler. apple claims to have the best form factor but their design does not adequetly allow for correct cooling. they need to change the design or have more efficient less power consumping chips.
last but not least, if u compare the same apple to a core duo pc, as was done on cnet.com a week or so ago. the pc (a new core-duo acer with the same specs as the mac which was a little less hardcore) outperformed the mac in every instance except design. lol. thats why ive decided to stick with pcs...tablet pcs that is. cause thats something that steve jobs has not thought about. i can understand why. considering that a tablet is something youre going to hold in your hand, you dont want it to be running at 82 degrees cause that is mighty hot for a laptop.
girls, girls, girls... ease up. LOL.
i admit i read this to the bottom. but it got more & more bitchy as i got to the end and i was shook.
who gives a shit? you need a boyfriend...
No film on my black MacBook. All i had was the foam case and screen protector.
#51
Obviously that class wasn't English.
Im pretty amazed to learn at johnwaller.org's (refer to post above) that you can get 2GB of equivalent ram for $167 intead of apples rip-off $500!!
Can anyone confirm it will work just as well as original ram supplied by apple??
This mac / win thing is boring. I, like many others, have chosen mac for personal reasons that are: ease of use, power, good looks, stability, hasslefreelessness. I got that with my G4 iBook and I may change in a year or so. I don't get that on a windows machine. I was ready to pay a bit more to get it, like many others who switched. Let the win gals and guys out there think what they think and us mac gals and guys as well, apart from geeks who does really care?
to #51, yes the acer may have performed better in benchmarks, but it's all about the software! Who care's about power and speed if you're running it on a poor operating system?
I think I'm going to buy a lamborghini, and try to run it on discount liquor.
"hasslefreelessness", nice word huh? well anyway, you got the message ;-)
Ok, let's solve this PC/Mac debate forever. (ahem)
"If you spend everyday doing things the complicated way then wouldn't that theoretically make you that much smarter?"
Very thought provoking... I would say if you do things the complicated way for no added benefit, you are actually less smart for wasting your own time, but if you are able to control your workflow more precisely or gain some other benefit due to the added complications, then you are indeed smarter.
I fall into the latter camp- love my Windoze PC, SORRY!
However, for many out there, including video editors, MAC is the only way to go, and I'm GETTING ONE for video!!
The bottom line is both are a box with chips, a screen, a keyboard, and a mouse. The hardware is getting fast enough for most users to do what they need on either. The true difference, besides fashion styling, IMHO becomes what software solutions are available- could not rip a simple DVD on Mac for years, still can't edit videos as well on a PC. Photoshop is a good example of a software solution you can use to great success on EITHER.
One more point- PC's are cheaper when you shop the parts right. I build my own PC's and wish I could do the same with Apple. MANY more options are available for complete customization. As long as Apple chooses to have a proprietary 'hardware monopoly' the lack of competition ends up costing the consumer more when they choose a Mac. (then again I guess those MAc clones weren't working too well)
I just think it's awesome that a little piece of plastic can cause such a HUGE flame war btwn Mac and PC users, seriously just use what you want and shut up.
BTW: There IS NO excuse for integrated graphics these days.
i got a dual core laptop from dell and it rocks! i am one of the original apple fans, for years i only would use macs, but frankly, one can get a better deal on a windows machine than an apple. Now if they reversed things and made it so that you could install osx on a windows machine, apple might sell a lot more copies of it's os.
#21 I bought an $800 Dell laptop and that includes a 128mb ATI x300 video card. And yes, that plays games such as WoW and Call of Duty 2.
"I don't have to worry about viruses(yes there are a few, but I haven't gotten them, maybe because I am smarter in my computing habits?). No spyware or Windows breaking because of new hardware I added."
I've always been a windows person. I've gotten 1 virus and very rarely have a problem with spyware. I will admit to having to reload the windows OS every so often. but, if anything I find that a good practice I always download a bunch of crap then never delete it after I'm done...just emptying my trash gets me like 2 gigs of space.
the only reason I would say windows > mac is the fact that windows has and always will have more programs...
If someone wants an OS that they didn't have to worry about they should just use linux...no reason to use a dulled up OS like OS X.
Kevin-
With any luck, you'll be hit by a bus next time you leave your house.
Ok, everybody chill out with all the hating. Just have fun, they're just gadgets, this isn't a holy war.
Best, Ryan
Cloud -- PCs are complicated because the engine is a worn-out quilt that has had patches sewn to it for many years. These patches have not made it better. What is needed is a new quilt from scratch. Apple did that with OS X and it was brilliant. Having converted from PCs to Macs in January 2005, I can tell you that there is no comparison. Once you understand the Mac environment, you realize how onerous and clunky Windows is....I doubted it until I switched.
#50... too funny...I think everyone just needs to CALM DOWN. All this hoopla over a piece of plastic that takes a second to take off...and something like this still gets 60+ comments!
OH SHI- I found some plastic in my vent on my MacBook!
Not really. Just messing around, I have a gateway laptop. It doesnt have plastic in it's vents either.
I've called some friends and read many many comments and I've come to the conclusion that only the MacBook European versions that came out of Maintek Computers (assembly plant) have this "problem". Fortunately the US version doesn't have the problem and therefore I hope there's no heat issues either. I know my MBP heats up so I can make coffee on it but since I removed the plastic strip the MacBook runs just fine. I even tried running some games under Rosetta which caused the most stress before and the computer does not turn into a helicopter anymore.
Well i'm a pc user, and i don't wanna get in the middle of all this....i do however find the debate here pretty ridiculous, and ppl getting way out of line. Both pc's and macs have their good and bad points, and u can argue it to the death. As far as the machines overheating, they need to get on that airflow issue.
Granted it's dumb to to not take off all the plastic strips off a new computer, but putting a strip there in the first place was pretty silly. Bad Apple.
I just want to know why Safari constantly crashes on my otherwise perfectly stable 12" ibook 1.2. Internet Explorer crashes on this self-built Windows desktop maybe once a week, but no, Safari has to crash about every 5-10 minutes.
As far as personal computing is concerned, Unix is overrated. Overall I am a Mac fan, but seriously... quality PC's are more stable.
Just check my MBP. No film.
No film on mine (ordered it the first day, recieved it two days later) but I DO have a defect on my touchpad. looks like a small object got sealed underneath. Apple said that since it works fine, I could send it for repair which would take a week, or pay a $100 restocking fee. Looks like I'm never buying a certain companies products ever again.
Awesome laptop otherwise.
How long before Apple legal contacts the the guy who posted the pics and story? How long before he recants? ;)
ok...this is specific to the macbook pro, yet i've read numerous comments like "not on my black macbook."
ok, you've got a choice--either you make a comment if you've got the pro, or you keep the world from knowing how retarded you really are....
Integrated graphics are a total crock on a machine at that price point. Nearly every problem that I've ever had with a computer has been related to integrated graphics and related memory conflicts. Synergy, my ass. Jobs just needed a new Ferrari.
#55
That's a good deal from NewEgg.com. Any DDR2 PC2-5300 200 PIN SO-DIMMs should work fine. We upped the 17" iMac Core Duo I use at work from 512 MB to 2 GB of RAM with a 2 GB kit from 18004memory.com and it worked out well. There's no need to pay the premium to get the memory upgrade from Apple. Shop around for the best price from reputable vendors.
#75
Look again. This issue is with MacBooks not MacBook Pros.
I just love watching this stuff. It's like reading a college anthropology textbook.
I guess people just need to belong to a "tribe". Even within the tribe we need special clubs and ceremonies. It used to be smokey huts and secret shrines - now people are forced to affiliate with a brand of computer or shoes or car or whatever. Kind of sad actually.
Just relax. It's nature AND nurture. Apple AND PC. Calm down. Embrace complexity and ambiguity.
#39, #44, #45 are idiots. #71 = Way to go, you are correct!
Mac Fans, keep getting ripped off by the hardware. Garbage noobs
No film here (black macbook). Still runs pretty hot though, but not hot enough to cause problems.
I love apple design, but its hard to pirate on an apple machine. (Pirating on other devices and pirate software itself.)
If it was just as easy on a mac, i'd be in there.
DVD decrypter, emulators, gerneral warez is all PC slanted. Know this.
So i'll stick to my overheating PC FTW.
"arent Mac users supposed to be smarter people?"
Actually, you're dumb to say or think that. It's the opposite. Mac users are dumb, it's the OS-X that's smart. With Windows it's the exact opposite. You have to be smart to work with it since you're constantly trying to debug it.
So, in summary:
OS-X - the best, smartest, easiest OS to use.
Windows - the worse, buggy, complicated, beta ware OS.
Get it?
wow #84 jcc, that has to be the most stupid and pointless comment made in the history of the world.
Have you ever used xp? It was designed for dumbasses, it hides all of the important setting and makes all of the wizards easily acceptable, making it a major pita for anyone that knows what they are doing, but a person with 3 braincells can make it do just about anything...
All smart people are either a. using some type of linux or b. fighting with xp trying to make it work with the rest of their linux boxen.
No smart person would ever buy a mac, they will build their pc from carefully researched parts to make a stable/cheep platform, and put linux on it. If they need some mac utility they would run it in vlc or write their own version. Same for xp.
Just because osx is build on unix doesn't mean that is it as stable as a *nix os. That is like putting an image of xp in vlc and saying that you have the power linux in your xp install. (and if that made no sense to you then you should go back to xp and stop reading engadget)
All in all I would have to say:
osx -> pretty, expensive, limited support, decently stable, comes with good media editing tools
winxp->looks fine, insanely huge, extensive support, can do anything, requires no knowledge of computers, boots fast (so long as you don't install a ton of crap on it), pretty stable (again, it will run forever if you don't install every piece of soft/spyware on the net), and does everything for you.
linux->free, looks like whatever you want it to, can be incredibly small (it will fit on a single floppy if you don't need X), extremely stable, pretty decently supported, can do just about anything, never requires a reboot, requires the user to be a nerd to use it.
take you pic...
let me lookkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!
my new black macbook crash all the time :(
On a different note. . .I received my new MacBook – straight from China to my front door – opened the sealed boxes and pulled it from its protective sleeve only to find it already ON! Imagine that! Has anyone else received a computer that is already turned on inside the box?
Just curious.
My new black MacBook is just fine. No plastic.
I just added 2GB RAM (not purchased from Apple, their price is a joke) to it two days ago, and I'm very impressed. I wrote a script to really push it and though it did get hot, it was still well within range of other core-duo and P4 laptops that are this thin.
Adding the RAM really helped for going dual display with this laptop. With plenty of RAM, this little dude runs a 23" cinema display very smoothly with all sorts of app windows open.
With everything you get as standard with the MacBook, it's quite a good deal for the money, too, IMO. It does everything from the most mundane tasks to chewing through video (even HD video) quite well. If you don't need a 3D gaming laptop, it's the way to go. It's surprising me every day with it's level of performance for the money.
My biggest surprise so far is how well it does at hosting full-screen, four-way video conferencing through iChat. Wow! My other, older Macs couldn't even do that, and I never expected to do it on the "low-end" mac laptop! The built in camera makes for very pretty video, and even with three other users in full screen, the video is quite smooth over any fast connection.
Photobooth is a blast, too. What a neat little app. Everyone loves it. It sure makes it easy to get all my friends and colleagues' pictures into the Address Book, which is cool, because those pictures carry over to email, calendar, and iChat apps automatically as well.
Once Photoshop goes Universal Binary (come on Adobe!) this little laptop will be just about perfect for my use. Whe I do gaming, I use a console or a tower PC, so the lack of a huge 3D accelerator card isn't important to me in the slightest. This MacBook does everything I need it to.
"arent Mac users supposed to be smarter people?"
no, otherwise they would use PCs
@ #86
Are you kidding? Between Mac The Ripper, DVD2oneX, and Toast, not to mention built-in dual-layer Superdrives, Macs would be BETTER at copying DVDs.
And if these don't do it for you, there's also Popcorn, DVDBackup, and a half dozen other programs that make good use of the Dual Core CPU to make the job fast and easy.
It's clear you've never used Mac OS X. Refrain from saying it "doesn't do it" when the bulk of us who actually own Macs know damn well that it does, and better (Our DVD rippers don't have spyware, viruses, or adware built in, and when we go looking for it we can find it on legit sites and not underground sites that send you trojans, pop-ups and worms).
Of course, on the other hand, Mac users aren't poor PC owners, and we can actually go out and PAY FOR our DVDs and software (most of the time, anyway).
Leave it to a PC weenie to say he's sticking with his computer because it aids him in stealing.
I have been reading my Gmail and decide to look at the web clips and found out about the colour wearing out on the Macbooks. That is bad but this plastic film is a good thing because it means that your air fent must be in perfect condetion with no shit blowing into it from the factory. Besides, you should always check your new item of what eva it is for damage or if you have to remove somthing. Like when you get a new watch or what eva you have to remove the plastic strip for the batterie to dischage power to the watch so it works. You proble most likly find that the film is susposte to be in the Macbooks. Any way, Apple is the best computer you can get. I WHISH I HAVE ONE. I HAVE STUPIED BLOODY MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP WHICH HAS CRASH SO I CAN'T CHANGE MY USER ICONS OR DO A BLOODY SEARCH.
JUST BE CLAD YOU HAVE A MAC.
MAC KICKS MICRSOFT'S ASS!
I'VE FORGOT TO MENCHEN THAT MY BLOODY BATTERIE HAS DIED WHICH IS DELL AND MY CD DRIVE.
I BET MACS DON'T DO THAT!
my mac book pro broke because it got too hot... arghs!
no plastic film on my macbook
does this even have a fan? i dont' feel any air coming out or goin in
My mac overheats 2-3 min after i open it up there has got to be something wrong with these macs and i dont have that thin plastic piece on my laptop why do they call it a laptop when you cant use it on your lap which the majority of people us them on their laps well anyways i emailed like it said mine still overheats and their is no thin plastic on or around the fan area